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Moravian College Accounting 213 -- Cost Accounting

Spring 2016

Instructor: Dr. Barbara Vinciguerra Office: Comenius Hall Rm. 216 Telephone: (610) 861-1377 Office hours: M/W 1:00 – 2:00 Email: bvinciguerra@moravian.edu T/Th 10:30 – 11:30 Other days and times by appointment

Catalog Description An introduction to basic financial information used within business organizations. Emphasis is on cost analysis to improve decision-making, and facilitate planning and control. Topics include cost systems, budgeting, variance analysis, performance measurement, pricing and profit analysis.

Course Objectives

This course is designed to introduce students to the variety of ways in which cost accounting information is used to support an organization’s strategic objectives. After completing this course, students should understand:

-   The nature of costs incurred by firms and the variety of ways by which organizations account for and manage these costs.

-   The process of budgeting and evaluating the performance of firms and their business units.

-   The use of cost information in a variety of decision making contexts.. -   The use of accounting information to motivate performance.

Required Materials

Garrison, Noreen, Brewer (2015). Managerial Accounting 15th Edition. NY, NY: McGraw Hill. Additional resources include:

-   Text website -- www.mhhe.com\garrisonma15e -   Class notes, announcements, and other resources are available on the Acct 213

Blackboard site, which can be accessed at http://blackboard.moravian.edu

Preparation + Participation = Success Students should come to each class ready to work! During each class period students will be organized into groups and several textbook problems and exercises will be assigned for completion. In order to be prepared to participate in the group work, you should be sure to do the chapter reading before class. Please bring your textbook and a calculator for each class session. (Note that you may not use cell phones as calculators during exams so you should get in the habit of bringing your calculator to class.)

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Expected Workload This course is a full-unit course (4 credits) that meets twice per week for 70 minutes at each class period. Middles States Accreditation requires that each full-unit course include at least 174 hours of course work during the fifteen-week semester. Over the course of this semester we will meet in class for 35 of these required hours. This implies that work outside of the classroom must meet a minimum threshold of 139 hours, or approximately 9 hours per week. The activities and assignments required for successful completion of this course are designed with that goal in mind.

Grade Determination

The final grade for the course will be determined as follows: Exams (3) 60% 360 points Case assignments (2) 25% 150 points Homework 15% 90 points Total 100% 600 points Extra Credit –can be earned by attending Accounting Club events. Please watch your email for details of upcoming events. A = 94% and above B- = 80% to 83% D+ = 67% to 69% A- = 90% to 93% C+= 77% to 79% D = 64% to 66% B+ = 87% to 89% C = 74% to 76% D- = 60% to 63% B = 84% to 86% C- = 70% to 73% F = below 60%

Examinations All students are expected to take examinations when scheduled. If a student knows of a conflict, it is the student’s responsibility to notify the instructor in writing via email. The student and instructor will find a time to reschedule the exam BEFORE the scheduled exam date. If extraordinary circumstances arise that prevent you from taking an exam at the scheduled time, the following two options apply at the instructor’s discretion: (1) a rescheduled exam will be arranged OR (2) a cumulative exam will be arranged for the next scheduled exam date. Please refer to the Schedule of Assignments on the last page of this syllabus for the exam dates.

Homework Assignments Homework problems will be assigned throughout the semester. The specific homework problems will be announced in class. In order to receive full credit for homework, students must make an adequate effort at completing all of the problems. An adequate effort includes following your text and notes to satisfactorily set up the problems and making an attempt to answer all questions. Problems for which the instructor does not feel the student has made an adequate effort will not be given credit. Homework will be assigned in each class and reviewed in the next class. Periodically, homework will be collected and evaluated. Please be sure that homework to be collected is prepared in a professional manner, i.e., includes your name and date, is neatly prepared, problems are properly labeled, and stapled together. Late homework will not be accepted for credit.

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Case Assignments Written analysis of two case studies will be required during the semester. The case studies use real world settings and deal with key topics in cost accounting including. The cases will be distributed in class. The case will be evaluated based on the demonstration of critical thinking, accuracy of the solution, and clarity of the supporting documentation. The written analysis of the case must be handed in on the date that the case is due.

Blackboard Course Site

Many of the materials for this course can be accessed through Moravian’s Blackboard course management system. Items included on the Blackboard site include instructor prepared materials such as electronic copy of the syllabus, PowerPoint slides, and selected solutions to problems. Class communications including course updates, and other important announcements will be communicated in class and through Blackboard. Students should log in to the course Blackboard site on a regular basis.

Classroom Courtesy

In order to promote a positive learning environment, please be considerate of your classmates and instructor. In order to minimize distractions to the entire class, please arrive on time, take care of your personal business (phone calls, text messages, bathroom breaks, email, social media...) before coming to class. The only acceptable use of computers and iPads during class is for course related work; therefore, computers and iPads should be closed except when we are working on problems.

Attendance Policy I will take attendance at the beginning of the class period. Please be prompt! More than two absences and/or excessive lateness will result in a reduction of the final course grade. Please note that other commitments such as athletics, doctor appointments, work, etc. are included in the two absences. I will make exceptions for documented extended absences and observation of religious holidays. If a situation arises that would cause you to miss a class, please notify me via email as soon as possible. It is the student’s responsibility to make arrangements for any missed materials or assignments.

Inclement Weather During hazardous weather conditions, the College may be closed and classes will be canceled. Such a cancellation would be announced over the public-address system of the HUB and over local television and radio stations, posted in AMOS and/or sent out via email. Commuting students should use their best judgment when deciding to come to classes when the college is open, but road conditions are hazardous. Commuting students will not be penalized for missed classes in these situations; however, you MUST notify the instructor. In the event of a two-hour delay, our classes will meet according to the two-hour delay course schedule 1:00-1:40.

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Acct 213 Spring 2016 Tentative Schedule of Topics and Assignments*

Date Topic

Reading Assignment

Important Dates

T Jan 19 Managerial Accounting Overview Ch 1 Th Jan 21 Managerial Accounting and Cost Concepts Ch 2 T Jan 26 Managerial Accounting and Cost Concepts Th Jan 28 Managerial Accounting and Cost Concepts T Feb 2 Job Order Costing Ch 3 Th Feb 4 Job Order Costing T Feb 9 Process Costing Ch 4

Th Feb 11 Process Costing

T Feb 16 Pricing App. A Th Feb 18 Exam #1 Ch 1-4 T Feb 23 Cost Volume Profit Analysis Ch 5 Th Feb 25 Cost Volume Profit Analysis T Mar 1 Variable Costing and Segment Reporting Ch 6 Th Mar 3 Variable Costing and Segment Reporting

T Mar 8 SPRING BREAK Th Mar 10 SPRING BREAK T Mar 15 Activity Based Costing Ch 7 Th Mar 17 Activity Based Costing T Mar 22 Master Budget Ch 8 Th Mar 24 Master Budget T Mar 29 Master Budget Th Mar 31 Exam #2 Ch 5,6,7,8 T Apr 5 Flexible Budgets and Performance Analysis Ch 9

Th Apr 7 Flexible Budgets and Performance Analysis

T Apr 12 Performance Measurement in Decentralized Orgs.

Ch 11

Th Apr 14 Performance Measurement in Decentralized Orgs.

T Apr 19 Differential Analysis and Decision Making Ch 12 Th Apr 21 Differential Analysis and Decision Making T Apr 26 Capital Budgeting Ch 13

Th Apr 28 Capital Budgeting Exam 3 Chapters 9,11,12,13

This is a tentative schedule of assignments; exact dates assigned to each topic may change depending on the pace of class discussion. Changes to the schedule will be announced in class. It is the student’s responsibility to ensure that he or she is aware of all changes.